Christmas Survival - part II
So, the nativity rehearsals are well on their way; the donkey is off sick, and Joseph has decided he doesn’t want to hold hands with Mary and walk anywhere, never mind all the way to Bethlehem!
Before full Christmas chaos ensues, take 10 minutes to read this blog and think about ways to keep everyone calm, on track, and glitter-free… Okay, I can’t promise that - you’ll have to embrace the glitter!
Here are 10 tips for surviving Christmas in school!
Keep things simple
You need to teach, but the children’s energy levels seem to be in mocking contrast to yours. Carpet sessions should be direct and simple: what exactly do you want the children to learn and what is the simplest way to teach this? Forget the ‘Insta-perfect’ set-ups and professional PowerPoint’s, you don’t have the energy.
Collaborate with Colleagues
This is not the time to reinvent the wheel and invest too much time in planning and preparation. Instead, team up with your colleagues, share ideas and resources, and timetable lessons and activities so you can rotate the resources between the team.
Prioritise
Make yourself a list of ‘to do’s’ and then categorise them in order from ‘must’ through to ‘it can wait’. Start with your deadlines - is there a data-drop? Do your books need marking or updating? Set yourself achievable targets, write them in your diary, and stick to them. The rest can wait until next week or even January!
Simplify Your Language
The more tired you get, the less efficiently you communicate. The less efficiently you communicate, the more chaotic things feel. Keep instructions to the bare minimum and ensure the whole class has stopped and is listening to you before you speak.
Setting up provision
Ensure the children tidy up thoroughly at the end of the day, that way you can setup as soon as they have left. Set yourself a target to set up in no longer than 15 minutes and stick to it. As point 1, keep things simple.
Christmas Cards
Don’t fall for the production line format; it’s stressful and no fun. Instead, model a few different designs to the children, provide them with the resources, and sit with them while they make their own, guiding them and talking about their Christmas plans. Don’t make the children copy the same greeting for inside, instead let them write what they can - even if that is ‘only’ their name.
Keep a normal timetable
There are nativity rehearsals, decoration making activities, and Christmas movie afternoons to name a few. It can be tempting to completely scrap your timetable and routines. Don’t. Keep to a normal timetable as closely as possible. Use your visual timetable and refer to it often to help everyone stay on track but also to prepare for anything out of the ordinary.
Take care of yourself
Take it easy. Make sure you get enough sleep, try to eat balanced meals, and carve out time for self-care. Oh, and make sure you wash your hands often! Teachers have incredible immune systems but we need to look after ourselves even more these days.
Get outside!
It’s cold and frosty, and the temptation is to stay inside in the warm. I would strongly recommend you keep to your indoor/ outdoor free flow and actually get out more if you can. Explore the frost in the morning - mark making or creating footprints; listen to the ground crunch beneath your boots; watch as the icicles melt in the midday sun. Getting out will help regulate energy levels and keep every safe at the same time (covid).
Tidy up!
No matter how tired you feel on the last day, make sure you completely pack away Christmas. You will thank yourself in January when you come back to a neat and tidy classroom, ready to go.
Have you got any other tips? Help others by writing them in the comments box below!